Seal cutter



W JAM ES.

Dec. 15, 1931.

SEAL CUTTER Filed March 19 1930 m z u I V?! a" m Wm M N 5 ,ATTU NEW Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED. STATES A 1,s36,03e

WILLIAM JAMES, or PORTLAND, OREGON, sext t-E. ouEQH i.

- or ron'rtmnqonneottgg SEAL cu'r'rnn Application filed men 19, 1930; "seriariwoi 43-1105;

This invention relates generally to devices for cutting seals on boxes and cartons, and particularly to means for cutting paper seals.

The main object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and efficient form of seal cutter especially adapted for the opening of paper cereal containers with special reference to those in cylindrical form.

The second object is to provide a seal cutter which Will be simple to manufacture and operate and which will readily lend itselfto the use as an advertising medium.

The third object is to so construct the cutter that it can be worn on the thumb and can easily be fitted to any size of thumb.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device in operation.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is a transverse section along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section through an alternative form of cutter point.

Figure 5 is a plan of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of cutter point.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown the ordinary form of cylindrical container 10 which is made of cardboard and is provided with a closure or cap 11 whose outer portion 12 is flush with the outer portion of the container 10 and leaves a little crack 13 between the end of the portion 12 and the shoulder formed on the container 10' (as shown in Fig. 7). The crack 13 is com cealed by means of a paper its full height, including and also covering the-portion 12 of the capll.

Turning now to my invention it will be thumb.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section through label or seal 1 1 which encircles the container 10, usual1y-to fastened to I each other -in:" fo

r ir asmui tsfieii a purpose-of permitting a changeirt the 'si i 1 ofthe'thimble by bendingthe metal thereof"; In .the 1 closed side 20 are formedone Or -more cutting" elements 21. These may;' either -be knife shaped (as shownin;Figures 2iand or" pointed (as shown F'igures lf'and 5"):

in :which the point 22lis ofthe'emetal'-23.- I I,

In the form shown iii-Fig.1; the metalil24- is actually pierced and the point 25 i's-bent merelypunchedioutj outwardly providing-an enlarged opening 26 which'will: prevent the pointf 25' becoming fouled'withbits of paper. 1*

Obviousl any' other form; of' cutt ing 'de: vice could e' employed fwithout departingf fromthe spiritofthisinvention. Y

Ittwill. be notedin Fig. l thatthe kni fe edges '21 areiso positioned with' tlIBlB- IBl'afiOH to the .thirnble'andtothe direction of the container 10 that the cutting ends 27 are toward the tipthat is, the movement of the container will tend to hold the thimble on the The operation of the dev1ceis as follows: When using same it is only necessary toplace the thimble on the thumb (as shown in Fig. 1) and then lace same against the container with the cutting edges 21 in the crack 13, then rotating the container by means of the hand 28,- allowing itto slip through the hand 29, durin whichtimethe cutters 21 remain in the crack 13. Obviously, one revolution of the container 10 will completely breakthe seal without marring the appearance of the container or endangering the hand of the operator in an way. The manufacturer, on the other han is enabled through this con trivance to secure some excellent advertising, inasmuch as they can be furnishedat an extremely low cost and the name of the ad vertiser may be easily and permanently affixed to the thimble.

Another advantage in leaving one side of the thimble open is to permit the cutting edge of one thimbleto lie in the'slot or open side 7 I of the next thimble for nesting purposes. 7 I claim: J

1. A seal'cutter consisting of a somewhat lcylindrical thimble adapted: to be worn on the finger, said thimble having a plurality of radial cutting points longitudinally disposed along one side of'said thimble ina radial plane passing through the axis of the thimble.

2. A sealeutter consisting of a somewhat cylindricah -tapering thimble having I one thimble to remain in open side and two open ends and having dis-7,,

posed along the length thereof opposite said through the axis of said cylinder.

3. A seal cutter consisting of an elongat ed, tapering thimble having a; plurality of cutting points disposed along the length of 7 one side thereof in 'a plane passing radially through the axis of thethimble whereby the, cutting actionrof said points will urge said position on the finger.-

v .4. A seal cutter consisting of an elongated thimbleslightly tapering toward its point and having a longitudinal row of pointsproj ecting from the sidethereof in the direction of the thimble point and lying in'a plane passing through the' longitudinal axis of the thimble.

I 5. A seal cutter consisting of an elongated thimble having open ends and oneopen side and having the side of said thimble opposite said open side provided with a series of cutters foccupying a plane approximately 2 pass-' ing through the longitudinal axis of the Y thimble, the cutting. action of said cutters serving to retain the thimble 0n the fingen 'WILLIAM JAMES.

o0 v r open side -aplurality of cutting points lying 1n a longitudinal plane passing radially 

